Waukesha County Home

SEPTEMBER 2017 HOME 5 4820 W. Loomis Rd. 414.744.9400 Greenfield 2120 E. Moreland Blvd. 262.524.1455 Waukesha Lifetime Installation Warranty! FREE Financing w/approved credit. Not valid with any other offers or previous purchases. www.stusflooring.com 257104001 H H o o m m e e M M a a k k e e o o v v e e r r SALE SALE Sale ends 9/30/17 CARPET BLOWOUTS Starting at 79¢ sq. ft. $ 100 OFF PURCHASE OF $999 OR MORE from the back directs more heat into the top. Position the two side reflectors to direct more heat up to the back reflector. This can almost double of the amount of solar heat to the food in the cooker. Another, more substantial design, is made with plywood and fiberglass insula- tion. Slant the clear front depending upon your latitude. It should face the sun more vertically the further south you live. Saw one-inch-diameter vent holes with adjustable covers in the sides to control the cooking temperature. The following companies offer solar cook- ers, kits, and plans: Clear Dome Solar, 619- 990-7977, www.cleardomesolar.com; Reflec- tions, 530-273-9378, www.solarovens.net; Solar Cookers International, 916-455-4499, www.solarcookers.org; Sun BD Corp., 315- 651-8821, www.sunbdcorp.com; and Sun Ovens International, 800-408-7919, www.sunoven.com. Dear Jim: My house has wood shingle siding now and a few of the shingles are rotten and in poor general condition. I would like to add new vinyl siding. Do I have to remove all the old shingles first? — Hal J. Dear Hal: You do not have to remove the old wood shingles first. They will form a solid base for the vinyl siding and create an extra layer for additional insula- tion. Replace the badly deteriorated shingles first. For increased energy efficiency, add one- half-inch rigid foam board insulation over the old shingles first. Use two-inch galvanized nails to attach the siding to the wall. Be careful not to nail it too tight to the wall. (Send inquiries to James Dulley, The Free- man, 6906 Royalgreen Drive., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.) Dulley: Solar cooker designs vary in attempts to save energy Making your home secure can beyond installing a home security system — an obvious choice. A well-maintained house can actually help deter burglars. Here are some tips: ■ Get to know your neighbors. One of the best security measures you can take is to get to know your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye out for strangers around your house. ■ Install a home security system. The research shows that homes without a security system are three times more likely to be broken into than homes with one. Home security systems obviously deter would-be thieves by bringing audible atten- tion to their break-in attempts. They also automatically dispatch the police to your home. Besides monitoring for breaches, many security companies also offer fire and carbon monoxide detection, as well as features that allow you to control your home's lighting and appliances while you're away. ■ Keep the outside of your house in tip-top shape. Regular home maintenance and upkeep serves two purposes. First, it keeps your home looking like it's occupied. An un- mowed yard could be a signal that no one is home. Second, you want to keep shrubs and trees trimmed and pruned to eliminate any possible hiding places for potential bad guys. ■ Watch what you've thrown out in the trash. One way bad guys will "window shop" your house is to check for any big card- board boxes for appliances sitting on your curb. If you make any significant purchase, make sure to cut up the cardboard box it came in so it can fit in a trash bag or a recy- clables container. Also, before you throw away any bills or bank statements, shred them to stave off identity theft. ■ Always lock your doors and win- dows. Sure, they can be easily picked or bypassed, but remember, 30 percent of all burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window. While locks aren't fool- proof, they do make breaking into your home a little more time-consuming, and thus less desirable for a bad guy. 5 ways to make your home more secure

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